Yett his memory must not be so flattered, that his virtues and good inclinations may be believed without some allay of vice, and without beinge clowded with greate infirmityes, which he had in to exorbitant a proportion:  He indulged to himselfe the pleasures of all kindes, almost in all excesses; whether out of his naturall constitution, or for wante of his domestique content and delight (in which he was most unhappy, for he payed much to deere for his wife’s fortune, by takinge her person into the bargayne) he was immoderately given up to women,[1] but therin he likewise retayned such a pouer and jurisdiction over his very appetite, that he was not so much transported with beauty and outwarde allurements, as with those advantages of the minde, as manifested an extraordinary witt, and spirit, and knowledge, and administred greate pleasure in the conversation; to these he sacrificed himselfe, his pretious tyme, and much of his fortune, and some who were neerest his trust and frendshipp, were not without apprehension that his naturall vivacity, and vigour of minde, begann to lessen and decline, by those excessive indulgences.  Aboute the tyme of the death of Kinge James or presently after, he was made L’d Steward of his Majestys house, that the Staffe of Chamberlyne might be putt into the hands of his brother, the Earle of Mountgomery, upon a new contracte of frendshipp with the Duke of Buckingham, after whose death he had likewise such offices of his, as he most affected, of honour and commaunde, none of profitt, which he cared not for; and within two yeeres after he dyed himselfe, of an Apoplexy, after a full and cheerefull supper.

[Footnote 1:  The words ‘to women’ occur twice in the MS., before ‘whether out’ and after ’given up’.]

8.

SIR FRANCIS BACON.

Lord Keeper 1617.  Lord Chancellor 1618.  Baron Verulam 1618, and Viscount St. Albans 1621.

Born 1561.  Died 1626.

By BEN JONSON.

[Sidenote:  Dominis Verulanus.]

One, though hee be excellent, and the chiefe, is not to bee imitated alone.  For never no Imitator, ever grew up to his Author; likenesse is alwayes on this side Truth:  Yet there hapn’d, in my time, one noble Speaker, who was full of gravity in his speaking.  His language, (where hee could spare, or passe by a jest) was nobly censorious.  No man ever spake more neatly, more presly, more weightily, or suffer’d lesse emptinesse, lesse idlenesse, in what hee utter’d.  No member of his speech, but consisted of the owne graces:  His hearers could not cough, or looke aside from him, without losse.  Hee commanded where hee spoke; and had his Judges angry, and pleased at his devotion.  No man had their affections more in his power.  The feare of every man that heard him, was, lest hee should make an end.

9.

By ARTHUR WILSON.